Telemedicine Intention, Need, Expectations, and Perceived Challenges Among Women With Osteoporosis

Overview

This study aims to explore the needs and expectations of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis regarding telemedicine services. Osteoporosis is a common condition among postmenopausal women that increases the risk of fractures and significantly affects quality of life. Many patients do not receive enough information about their disease and treatments during routine clinic visits, which may affect their ability to manage osteoporosis effectively. Participants will be divided into two age groups: those younger than 65 and those aged 65 or older. These subgroups will be compared in terms of their willingness to use telemedicine, their perceived need for such services, their expectations, preferred service topics, and anticipated barriers. Telemedicine-including video consultations, remote monitoring, and online health education-can offer support to patients, especially for those facing difficulties in accessing healthcare, such as elderly individuals, those living in rural areas, or people with mobility issues. In this research, women aged 50 to 85 who have been diagnosed with postmenopausal osteoporosis will be asked to complete a survey. The survey includes questions about their needs for telemedicine services, including which types of services (such as medication counseling, exercise programs, dietary advice, psychological support) would be most helpful for them. The study will also examine if age, education level, past fractures, or family history of osteoporosis influence patients' preferences for telemedicine. By identifying these needs, this research aims to improve access to healthcare and develop personalized telemedicine services for women with osteoporosis in Turkey. This is a non-interventional, observational, and anonymous survey-based study that will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. No medications, treatments, or physical tests will be applied.

This observational, cross-sectional study investigates the actual needs, preferences, and expectations of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis regarding the use of telemedicine services. Osteoporosis is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by decreased bone density and increased fracture risk, which can significantly impair mobility, and overall quality of life. Access to ongoing medical support is crucial for these patients, yet many-particularly older individuals-encounter substantial barriers such as physical limitations, transportation difficulties, limited caregiver availability, or lack of local specialist services. Telemedicine has gained prominence as a solution to these challenges, offering remote access to healthcare services through technologies like video consultations, telephone check-ins, and online education tools. While telemedicine has been widely implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, there remains a lack of data on how women with postmenopausal osteoporosis view these services, what features they find most useful, and what obstacles they anticipate. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate which types of telemedicine services are most needed and preferred by this patient population-for example, support related to medication use, exercise programs, and dietary advice. The study also aims to determine whether specific sociodemographic and clinical variables-such as age, education level, marital status-are associated with participants' willingness to use telemedicine and their actual need for it. To examine age-related differences, participants will be divided into two subgroups: those under 65 years of age and those aged 65 or older. These subgroups will be compared across multiple domains, including their interest in using telemedicine, actual necessity for such services (calculated according to parameters living alone, not driving/owning a car, having a chronic disease other than osteoporosis), expectations for care delivery, preferred content areas, and potential barriers (such as lack of internet access or digital literacy). Data will be collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire developed through expert consultation and adapted from validated tools in previous telehealth research. The questionnaire includes closed-ended questions and will be distributed during routine outpatient visits at two regional hospitals. Participants will be informed about the purpose of the study and assured of full anonymity and confidentiality. Completing the questionnaire is voluntary and is estimated to take approximately 10-15 minutes. By identifying telemedicine-related needs specific to postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, this study seeks to support the creation of age-appropriate, patient-centered telehealth models. These findings may also inform healthcare providers and policymakers on how to design and implement accessible, effective, and equitable digital healthcare interventions to improve long-term disease management and patient outcomes in this growing patient population.